You can set it to pull the web sites in, or to launch them in your favorite browser. You control the frequency of updating. You can have it launched and sitting there, with all the text downloaded to read on the plane, without having to be online.

This has been my only way to really follow most websites for the last few years, and has changed both the number of sites I follow and the level to which I’m involved with them. I have 44 individuals and groups just on flickr that I follow, and can tell at a glance if there’s anything new. I can easily drag them around to change the order, review the titles of posts, etc.

In LifeHacker, for example, I can skip the posts that I care nothing about (windows downloads, dating hacks, Linux hacks, etc.), and scan the titles of things I may want to read. Same with Gadgeteer, Engadget, and the like. I keep up with three company blogs at work so that I am at least aware of progress in other product groups besides mine. It also helps me to post about my work, so that others can know what I’m doing.

I’m curious, what about Google Reader don’t you like? For me, it’s perfect because I can use it on any machine, PC or Mac and it will always have a current list of new articles for me. I use a PC at work and then at home, I use the Mac. Anything I read during the day will stay marked as read when I get home. I love that )